TNAG-0430-FCO40-495-Appointments-of-membership-of-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Ko-1974 — Page 22

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APPOINTMENTS TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCILONG KONG

1.

The Governor has asked us to approve the appointment of

Mr K W J Topley and Mr B F Slevin, respectively Director of Education and Commissioner of Police, to Hong Kong's Legislativ Council, as officis menters,

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2.

Mr Topley, the new Director of Education, would take the place of the former Director of Education, Mr J Canning, who retired on 2 September. Particularly at a time when the Hong Kong Government is preparing a White Paper setting out its education policy for the next decade, I think there can be no question that the Director of Education should continue to sit on the Council.

Mr Slevin's appointment is more controversial. He would take the place on the Council formerly occupied by Mr D R W Alexander, the

Director of Urban Services.

3.

It could be argued (and may be by some) that, since the Urban Services Department is closely connected with the only elected body in Hong Kong (the Urban Council), the replacement of the Director of Urban Services by the Commissioner of Police is

a move away from democracy and towards a more authoritarian style of government. The Governor's view, however, is that it is now less important for the Director of Urban Services to sit on the Council since most of the matters formerly dealt with by him should

now be raised in the Urban Council itself. It is also the case that the Urban Council now has two of its own members on LegCo, Mr H Cheong-Leen (the Urban Council's Vice Chairman) and Mr Lo Tak-shing. They are better able to speak for the Urban Council than is any official.

4.

I agree with the Governor's view. I think, however, we should make the point that, while we accept that the appointment of the present two Urban Council members is in their personal

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